Pear

Plant family

Rose family (Rosaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Dark germinator

Seeding distance

350 cm

Row spacing

250 cm

Seeding depth

2 cm

Instructions

Description

The pear belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and is a widespread fruit tree classified as a pome fruit. Today's cultivars are mainly descended from wild pear varieties such as the wild pear (Pyrus pyraster) and the snow or wood pear (Pyrus nivalis). Pear trees can grow to a height of up to 20 m. The white to pale pink flowers form and open in early to late spring, depending on climatic conditions. The pear fruit, which are usually pear-shaped, come in a variety of colours, including green, yellow and red. The pear is a long-cultivated plant that has evolved from the crossing of several wild species. Because of its high heat requirements, it is often planted as a trellis plant along the walls of houses. When planting the tree, care must be taken not to bury the root ball too deep, but to keep it level with the garden surface. Pear varieties are not usually self-fertile, so a pollinator variety with a similar flowering period is needed. Pears can be harvested late in the autumn, depending on the variety. Regular pruning in late autumn or winter promotes an abundant harvest.

Growing tips

Pear trees tolerate frost down to around -2°C, so the location of the pear tree should also not be at risk of late frost. Pear trees prefer deep, humus-rich soil that is not too cold or wet, as otherwise diseases can develop more easily. The different pear varieties have different requirements in terms of site conditions. A second pear tree can be helpful for pollination, as pear trees cannot pollinate themselves. When planting a root-free pear tree, a hole twice the size of the root ball should be dug and the tree should not be planted deeper than before. It is advisable to apply compost fertilizer when planting. Shake the tree a little to distribute the soil between the roots. After filling up, press the soil down firmly and water generously. The top and side shoots should be shortened by no more than half and the tree should be tied to a stake. Pear trees should be well fertilized once in spring and provided with additional nutrients in summer. If there is a very large crop of fruit, it should be thinned out a little, otherwise the tree will only bear sparsely the following year. The crown of the pear tree should remain light, so prune inward-growing shoots in winter. Overhanging branches with too many fruits should be pruned in August.